I'm leaving 9/22/07, Glory, Western Carribean. I just checked my itinerary on carnival.com and they have removed the active link for excursions. It was on there just yesterday. They have not replaced it with anything yet. I'm still 30 days out, so maybe they are keeping their options open. Confirming what everyone probably already knows, but this seems to be the first "official" sign I have seen.

Here's a website that my daughter just emailed me. It has several long posts about what was happening during and after Dean. There are pictures of Costa Maya before Dean and then a newspaper picture of what the pier looks like now...only 6 sections remain.

How sad for Costa Maya. We always went straight to the little fishing village of Mahahual and spent the day at their beach. Last year we took school supplies to them because the school was so pitiful. I wonder if they even have a school now. This was such a beautiful little place and we will certainly miss it on our October 2007 cruise.

I called Carnival direct tonight to ask if they had any idea of their plans for the Holiday cruises from Mobile to Cozumel & Costa Maya since Costa Maya was sos devastated. I was told that they are still making decisions, but that the cruise that was leaving Mobile this week would go to Cozumel and Progresso. She did not yet know if this would be a replacement for Costs Maya on all upcoming cruises for the next few months yet.

I really wish that they would just let us have Cozumel for two days in a row while Costa Maya is recovering, or would divert some of those sailings to Key West & Freeport.

Per Carnival's website, the 8-25-07 sailing of the Glory was as follows:
Keywest-Cozumel-Progresso-Nassau.

I'm sailing the Glory in a few weeks and called Carnival to see how long this particular itin. will be in place and was advised through December.
I reconfirmed with the Carnival rep. with whom I spoke that this was indeed to be the Glory's new western itin. and he reassured me it was. Per the rep the website should be reflecting this change in a couple of days.
So, if he knew what he was talking about, western Glory cruisers can scratch Belize and Costa Maya. I'm pretty happy with the changes.

From what I have heard they are keeping the ports for our trip the same except changing Costa Maya for Progreso. But I could be wrong. Carnival has said that Belize should be back by the time we sail!

Actually Carnival is keeping the new itinerary that they are using for the Glory sailing today, for the next few months. (at least until December 15th sailing I believe.)

Someone on our sailing in two weeks got an e-mail from their PVP that the change was set until December.

I was just researching Key West and found the city's official website, with a cruise ship schedule and the Glory has been added every other Sunday, starting tomorrow and at least throughout September. (which is what I was concerned with.)
So apparently Carnival has contracted the pier with the city indefinitely.

Now I need to change my beach reservations in Cozumel, since it gets moved back a day in the itinerary.

I was glad that the Fantasy was going to Key West instead of Progresso, now, they've changed it to Progresso. From what I've read, Progresso is not really a desired port. Small, not much going on, just a poor town needing some economic impact on the coastline. What's the deal? Seems a more festive port would be in the offing, instead of this one.

Seems as though the info. I got from the Carnival rep. yesterday re/ the itin. change for the Glory was correct.

I know that when there's a change in itin. there's always some who are happy and some who are not. I loved Costa Maya and could take or leave Belize. I had been to both 3-4 times. I like Keywest and have been to Progresso before. I am looking forward to taking the excursion to Chichen-Itza again so overall, I'm quite happy with the changes.
But wherever we go, a cruise to anywhere is better than staying home doing yard work, going to the store, etc.!!

So the Fantasy is going to Progresso?? How did you find out? I'm leaving in 3 weeks on the Fantasy - havn't heard a thing. However, I would rather go to Progresso than the Keys. Just my personal opinion only - don't slam me. Wherever we go - I'll have fun!

Oh my, I had no idea a hurricane could do so much damage toa concrete structure! I was in Costa Maya in January and to think that only six sections remain. They used to be able to have three ships in port at one time, but now looking at the pics, nope.

How did the shopping area fare? I can assume that some or most had serious damage as well.

The fantasy is now going to Progresso instead of Costa Maya and shortening the time at COZUMEL I think that is terrible, they could be taking us anywhere rather than Progresso!!!!!!!!!! It is an armpit.....filthy beaches, and there is so many other ports that they could do. Carnival is NOT doing anything for the people that are booked and no refunds if you cancel, that SUCKS

Carol - I personally don't mind Progresso - however, I do wish they would not shorten time in Cozumel. Perhaps you should change to a different itinerary or something?? Where did you find the information out? I can't find it anywhere. Thanks

I too would be interested in how you know about shortening time in Cozumel? I haven't been able to find that I already have an excursion planned for there and wonder if I'll need to change it. Is Progreso really so bad? I was actually sorta excited when I saw how awesome the ruins are there...Of course, I am so sad for the people of Costa Maya and I hope to visit there some day. But I do intend to make the most of this first cruise and hope I'm not disappointed by Progreso's ruins!

__________________
first time cruise - group of teachers ready for fall break!

I was glad that the Fantasy was going to Key West instead of Progresso, now, they've changed it to Progresso. From what I've read, Progresso is not really a desired port. Small, not much going on, just a poor town needing some economic impact on the coastline. What's the deal? Seems a more festive port would be in the offing, instead of this one.

Turkeyman,

Not everyone likes Progreso, but Merida is very nice. It is only 30 miles south of Progreso. Also, you can book the excursion to Chichen Itza. It has recently been named one of the seven wonders of the world. If you are interested in Mayan ruins, it is amazing. Djbilchitun (spelling!!) is only a few miles from Progreso and is also an option. Uxmal (another ruin) is also an option, and even though I haven't seen this one, I've heard that it is also worth the drive. (We hope to visit Uxmal on one of our future trips.)